LOW levels of payment for services is making it almost impossible for Emalahleni Local Municipality to service the Eskom debt which is above R1.7 billion.

The situation is so dire to an extent that residents and business cannot be guaranteed that power will remain on.

The municipality has been placed on an awkward situation which requires that Red Ants pounce on defaulters and disconnect them.

It was reported during Council meeting in June, that from 1 July 2017 to 30 April 2018, Eskom billed the municipality a total of R897, 739,586.03 for bulk electricity supply. During that period Eskom was paid 402 658 709.67.

The municipality is in arrears of R1, 797,875,769,54 of which R191, 100, 000 is for arrangements made and Eskom’s whopping interests of R117, 815,140,62 levied on overdue account for the 2017/18 financial year.

The Executive Mayor, cllr Linah Malatjie, made a recommendation that Council invite the public and private sector to come and assist the municipality with revenue enhancement strategies.

None of the 34 wards has reached 80% payment rate, only eight wards are above the 50% payment rate, 14 wards below 20%, and four wards are above the 70% mark as at 24th of April.